Graduate Programs - Masters in Business Administration

Course Descriptions

COR 510: Moral Leadership (3 credits)
This course introduces students to a philosophy of education that provides the skills necessary to assume a prominent place in shaping the vision, mission and activities of their employers and professions. This course is also designed to help students study the importance of systematic reform of political, economic and social services, in remedying the problems that plague urban school systems, social services and society generally. It also helps them understand the importance of openness to new analyses and strategies for change in addressing social problems.

COR 600: Organizational and Professional Ethics (3 credits)
This course explores the ethical dilemmas faced by leaders in nonprofit organizations, business, education, and other professions. It examines the concept of professional ethics applied to an organizational structure. Ethical theories and organizational decision making strategies are discussed. Students are challenged to process ethical dilemmas through thought and actions that promote socially responsible professional behavior, social justice, and the human dignity of each individual involved. Students participate in experiential exercises and analyze case studies to apply theories and concepts to real world situations. (To be taken with the final 12 credits.)

MBA 500: Strategic Management (3 credits)
This course explores management theories, principles and practices. Analysis of the particular leadership, motivational, financial and functional attributes of institutions are emphasized. Prerequisite: Five years of Professional Experience or a course in Principles of Management.

MBA 510: Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
This course emphasizes the application of accounting systems to managerial decision-making and problem solving. Analysis and interpretation of financial statements, analysis of cash flow, cash budgeting, cost-volume-profit analysis and responsibility accounting are among the major topics explored. Prerequisite: Completion of two semesters of Accounting.

MBA 515: Critical Issues/White Collar Crime (3 credits)
This course discusses and analyzes various theories, ranging from classical Sutherland approach to the modernistic governmental crime model. The characteristic of this form of crime is examined. Trust, nonviolence, deceit, confidence, power and authority are reviewed as observed perpetrator traits. Corporate crime, occupational crime, corruption, fraud and financial crime are viewed as examples of the problem. The costs both in terms of financial loss and human resources are assessed. A complete survey of the appropriate laws and the enforcement and regulatory agencies targeted toward this specialized crime problem is made.

MBA 520: Marketing Services (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide students with a broad approach to the concepts of various marketing functions including consumer behavior and new product development. Emphasis is placed on international issues and their impact on the development of strategies for consumer and industrial-based products or services entering the global market. Prerequisite: Five years of professional experience or a course in Principles of Marketing.

MBA 525: Workplace/School Violence (3 credits)
This course addresses the concerns associated with violence occurring in the workplace or educational environment. Indicators of potential conflict are evaluated and procedures to avoid violence are discussed and reviewed. A demonstrated course of action in the event of an occurrence is developed.

MBA 530: Corporate Finance (3 credits)
This course familiarizes the student with the role of the financial manager in a modern business organization. Topics include: time value of money, financial analysis, risk analysis, financial forecasting, cost of capital, stock and bond valuation modes, capital budgeting and investment decisions under conditions of uncertainty.

MBA 535: Crisis Management (3 credits)
This course evaluates methods and procedures utilized in times of crisis. Practical applications are explored through the use of case studies and guest lecturers. A crisis management plan is developed to demonstrate competency in crisis situations.

MBA 540: Employment Law (3 credits)
This course offers a comprehensive review of employment law. Employment Law explores employee-employer relationships, personnel problems and permissible activities in employee dismissal cases. Case law where legal principles have been changed by the courts is reviewed. Finally, the newest labor statutes are addressed.

MBA 550: Labor Relations Management (3 credits)
This course provides a broad and balanced overview of labor relations. The course investigates historical, legal and structural environments. Labor contract negotiations and administration are also researched.

MBA 560: Human Resource Management for Leaders (3 credits)
This course is designed to build understanding in compensation and benefit administration utilized in today’s business and government agencies. Emphasis is placed on understanding human resource wage scales, placement development, administrative requirements and remedies and benefit administration. The impact of legislative issues, mandates and discipline practice is identified and reviewed.

MBA 570: Marketing Research Seminar (3 credits)
This course addresses the principles of social scientific methodology for marketing research. Topics covered include scientific method, problem formulation, cost and research design, questionnaire construction, report preparation, data interpretation and reliability measurements. Research results are used to formulate marketing strategies directed toward specific markets.

MBA 591: Accounting for the Workplace (3 credits)
This course is designed to introduce students to accounting who have not had accounting courses or accounting experience at the undergraduate level. The course fosters an understanding of the basic concepts of financial accounting, including accounting information systems.

MBA 592: Management and Marketing (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide foundations in management and marketing for students who have entered the program with limited exposure to management and marketing. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basis for management theory and marketing. The course is designed to provide necessary prerequisite information for students who will be taking management and marketing courses in the MBA program. This course addresses the need for the foundation CPC requirements.

MBA 593: Economics and Finance (3 credits)
The purpose of this course is to provide foundations in economics and finance for students who have entered the program with limited exposure to economics and finance. The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basis for economic theory and financial decision making. The course is designed to provide necessary prerequisite information for students who will be taking economics and finance courses in the MBA program. This course addresses the need for the foundation CPC requirements.

MBA 600: Quantitative Methods (3 credits)
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the use of mathematical and statistical methodology used in managerial decision-making. Topics include linear, integer and dynamic programming, sensitivity analysis and duality, network models, inventory and queuing, and simulation. Prerequisite: Completion of college algebra or its equivalent.

MBA 610: Legal Environment (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the effects of legal forces on the objectives and operations of nonprofit
organizations, churches, schools and businesses. Policies and decisions based on current case studies are examined with emphasis placed on vulnerabilities and the appropriate techniques of managing exposure risks. Contemporary issues relating to governmental regulations, employment issues and human resource policies faced by leaders in cross-cultural settings are explored.

MBA 612: School Finance (3 credits)
This course is designed to help the prospective administrator understand how schools function from a financial prospective. Students learn the essentials in school accounting, budgeting, financing, investing, financial regulations and requirements, and computer application. The principals’ role in effective budget performance is emphasized.

MBA 620: Managerial Economics (3 credits)
This course examines the use of economic tools for managerial decision-making. Applicable economic, statistical and computer skills are studied. Emphasis is placed on the microeconomic theory of organizations and its application in nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and businesses.

MBA 630: Management Finance (3 credits)
This course presents an overview of financial management and its role within nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and businesses. The focus is on the prime variables that affect the financial manager within the firm and within the economy. Topics include financial management and its environment, analysis of the operating budget and its impact on setting priorities, valuation and the cost of capital, capital budgeting, working capital management, analyzing and planning financial performance, and institutional features of long-term planning. Prerequisite: Managerial Economics.

MBA 635: Public Relations (3 credits)
This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to serious public relations. Coursework provides a conceptual framework for understanding the latest concepts, origins, principles and theories underpinning this emerging practice.

MBA 640: Accounting for Government and Not-for-Profit Organizations (3 credits)
This course explores accounting principles and procedures relative to governmental units and not-for-profit institutions. A comparison with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) used in business is featured.

MBA 650: Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (3 credits)
This course is designed to identify and analyze factors that contribute to the success of new business ventures. Major topics include risk assessment and management, leadership skills, sources of funding and the development of a business plan. Case studies of successful and unsuccessful ventures are analyzed.

MBA 660: Grantsmanship in Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
Applicable coursework develops skills for writing grants to obtain financial resources from foundations and other funding sources. Practical strategies and case studies are examined to increase effectiveness of fund-raising efforts for programs of nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools. Methods for developing partnerships with other organizations are highlighted. Emphasis on grant writing for programs that promote social justice in cross-cultural settings links this course to the Franciscan tradition.

MBA 670: Corporate Communication (3 credits)
Examines nature of communication in the corporate and organizational context and how the corporation communicates with its various publics. Analyzes organizational communication (internal and external) before, during, and post-change, such as during growth, collapse, and merger. Case studies may include: corporations (for profit and not-for-profit); schools and/or educational establishments; law enforcement and justice systems; churches and/or religious systems; health institutions; military organizations; government associations.

MBA 680: Executive Leadership Seminar (3 credits)
This is a capstone course and is designed to enhance development of the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and values required for one to become an effective, inspirational leader. In addition to case studies, interaction with successful business executives provides students with realistic models of leadership.